Archive for the 'Devon Kennard' Tag Under 'USC' Category

Coaches select team captains every year, but leaders aren’t picked. They identify themselves, and not only in games.

Because of his intensity, strong play and the respect of teammates, linebacker Hayes Pullard will likely be a team captain for USC’s season opener at Hawaii. He has certainly earned that, but Coach Lane Kiffin has also singled out linemen Devon Kennard and George Uko.

Kennard, a senior, missed all of last season because of a torn chest muscle but has thrived in fall camp as a stand-up edge rusher. Uko is a junior and a vocal leader.

``I think that’s really been a big theme for this camp,’’ Kiffin said. ``Those two guys, every practice, every day, every drill, regardless of what it is, they’re bringing a championship effort. It’s obviously on film. We’ve talked to our players (and said), `If you want to see how to practice like a champion, watch those two guys, because they’re doing it now.’’

Stand here. Go there. Fill that gap. Rush. Drop back. It's surprising that, after five weeks of USC spring practice, Clancy Pendergast still has his voice and hasn't worn out five pairs of shoes.

USC's defense has had a crash course this spring with Professor Pendergast. Hired in January to replace Monte Kiffin as defensive architect, Pendergast has overhauled the unit. Gone is the 4-3 front and the passive zone defense, replaced by an aggressive, attacking scheme, one with a lot of moving parts.

''There's a lot of little nuances that this defense has, and we're a communication-oriented defense,'' Pendergast said. ''The more those guys spend time together, hearing the same things, saying the same things, the better off we're going to be in the future. We're trying to get as much of that done now as we can, so it's second nature when they come back for fall camp.''

Spring practice concludes Saturday with the annual scrimmage at the Coliseum, and those who attend (1 p.m. start) or watch at home (Pac-12 Networks) will see some familiar faces in some new places.

For the most part, USC now has five players at the line of scrimmage: a nose tackle and two "defensive ends'' down in 3-point stances, flanked on the outside by two stand-up edge rushers. Behind them are two linebackers who can either rush the backfield or drop back into coverage.

-- Devon Kennard will redshirt and will not return this season. There had been some thought that Kennard would be able to return from a chest-muscle injury late this season. Injured players Brian Baucham and Cody Temple will also miss the rest of the season.

-- Kiffin didn't give an update on lineman Aundrey Walker, who left yesterday's game on a cart, and disclosed only that Walker attended today's team meeting and that "things seemed to be positive."

-- USC expects to learn on Monday whether lineman Leonard Williams will be suspended for hitting a Colorado player. Kiffin said Williams apologized to teammates and said Williams made a mistake and will "learn from it and grow from it."

The package is called "Fresno," for obvious reasons. Its most notable feature is Fresno native T.J. McDonald, a safety, playing near the line of scrimmage, where he can rush the passer or drop into coverage.

It's about more than just McDonald, though.

USC's new defensive wrinkle -- a 3-2-6, or "Dollar" package, at least in Madden -- features three safeties and three cornerbacks. It enables Drew McAllister, an excellent ball hawk, to get on the field. It also provides the option of putting Nickell Robey in the slot, where he'll make his money in the NFL.

The Trojans first dabbled with "Fresno" in spring, then upped its usage in training camp. They let the world in on the new formation once the season started, throwing it at offenses as a change-up in clear passing situations.

USC coach Lane Kiffin was impressed with the performance of his new-look defensive line against Hawaii. The unit was missing injured seniors Wes Horton and Devon Kennard and featured five players making their Division I debuts.

That group included freshman defensive tackle Leonard Williams, who had two tackles, a sack, a fumble recovery and a pass breakup.

“I saw some great things out of Leonard, some things where you really say, ‘Wow,' ” Kiffin said. “He also made bunch of mistakes, like any freshman would.”

Kiffin expects the defensive line to face a much tougher challenge in Week 2 against Syracuse (Saturday, 12:30 p.m. PT, KABC/7).